2 Samuel, 2 Samuel 23. The title of the message, simply
the last words. Now These be the last words of
David. My first point is simply this,
death is imminent. Death is imminent. Swiftly are our days passing. Fast, quickly. When we were young, our days
seemed to go a lot slower. We couldn't wait until we got
to a certain age. We were always clamoring, waiting
to be older. I can't wait till I can play
with these kids, or be with those kids, or drive, or get done with
school, or go to college, or get a job. But you, you who are
older know how fast it is gone. Quickly our days are fleeting
and listen to me very carefully You like David will have last
words now you may not have the time and thought process that
David has your last words may be ah And that's it, but you're
gonna have a last word it may be the the night before you fell
asleep you had last words and But your last words are coming.
My last words are coming. It's imminent. It's on the horizon,
swiftly approaching. Listen, there is none of Adam's
race that ever has or ever will escape death. Few, there have
been two or so that God has ascended into glory, but none since then,
none since then, Enoch, Elijah, those two men,
but consider of all the billions of people, those are the exception
to the rule. Listen to me, every one of us,
save the Lord Jesus Christ, come back, will die. You can be as
fed as you want, you can eat what you want, be as healthy
as you want. I tell you, by the authority
of God, you and I will be worm food. Very soon. Soon and very
soon. David had last words. Why is
this? Why is it that death is so imminent?
Even because it started in the garden. This is where death started. It started there. And it started
not with physical death, but with spiritual death. Spiritual
death. There's none of Adam's race that
has ever escaped the result of Adam's sin. Over to Romans chapter
5. Read the Word of God with me. Wherefore, as by one man's sin, By one man's sin entered into
the world. Now notice that sin did not enter
the world by Satan. Chapter 5, Romans, verse 12. Sorry. Verse 12. Wherefore, as
by one man sin entered into the world. Satan did not bring sin
into the world. He was the representative of
no man or angel. Consider that he represented
no angels. The angels fell. They followed
him willingly. He did not represent them. It
was not Eve that brought sin into the world. When she ate,
nothing changed. That was not her responsibility. She did not represent anyone. When she ate, nothing changed,
no curse, no conscience about it. But when Adam did eat and
broke the law of God immediately, immediately, the curse fell. The curse of sin, which was what? Death. God said, In the day thou
eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. And as soon as he rebelled,
he died immediately. Death fell on him, and not only
on him, but on all of us. Why are you talking about Adam
so much? Because we have an interest in this man, Adam. I'll tell
you, you have an interest in this man, Adam, because when
he sinned, so did you. So did I. We sinned when he sinned. When he died, we died. You see, he was a representative
man. I don't care what you think about
that. I don't care as to your opinion about that. That's what
God set Him up to be. God created Him as a representative
of you and me. And when He fell, when He died,
so did you. You died in Him. Therefore, death came by sin. That's what it says in Romans
5, 12. Sin by one man's sin entered
into the world. And listen, death by sin. So death passed upon all men,
for that all have sinned. All have sinned. Therefore death
came by sin, so death passed upon all men, for we all sinned
when he sinned. So then death is not just what
happens to men at the end of life, but I'll tell you, death
is what happens to us at conception. Death happens at conception. Here is where people begin to
be emotional and sentimental. Here's where the emotional and
sentimental people come in and say, Oh, preacher, that's so
mean. Oh, you're so cruel. How can you say the little babies? Oh, the little babies, aren't
they so innocent? God said they're not innocent. They're guilty. They're guilty. Surely babies in the womb that
are not capable of committing sin, they're innocent. No, they're
not. Not according to the Word of
God. David, this man who is speaking his last words, he said, he said
this in Psalm 51 5, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin
did my mother conceive me. This spiritual corruption and
dead nature is one that comes not by our own personal commission
of sin, but of our representative. Our representative. Adam. Jesus himself said, that which
is born of flesh is what? What is it? What is born of flesh?
Flesh. He's talking about a nature,
not the skin. He's talking about the physical,
carnal, the carnal nature of man. That which is born of man
is man. That which is born dead is dead. It's dead. Passed down from us
by our Father. Adam represented man. The whole
race. So that when he sinned, we all
sinned. When he died, we all died. Now consider this. This is a fact. This is a fact of nature. Babies
die all the time. Matter of fact, they're murdered
in our country more than they probably die. By reason of their death, we
can see that they're not innocent. If they were innocent, they should
not face God's curse of physical death. They shouldn't have any disease
or sicknesses. But because of this, we see it
proves God's Word that they're corrupt by nature. Friends, sin
is the root of all calamities and corruption and decay. Who
has not looked in the mirror and saw decay this morning? I know you did because you fixed
it. You all fixed up. Somebody said that I clean up
pretty nicely. Yeah, but I didn't look this
way when I got up. No, I saw decay. And so did you. This is because of the spiritual
death. As we were born into this world,
listen to me, you began to die the moment you took your first
breath. And you've been heading that way ever since. You are
headed to the grave. That's where you're going. That's
where you're going. I tell you, most preachers want
to tell you how to live. I'd rather tell you how to die. Because that's altogether more
important, isn't it? Physical death, my friends, is
imminent. Behold the man in our text. Who
is speaking here? Who has his last words? It's
David. Oh, what a great man David was. The Scripture here says that
he was the son of Jesse. And the man raised up on high,
anointed of God. This was a great man, a king,
who was raised up from the sheepfold. You remember how he was out there
watching the sheep while his other brothers, Jesse called
all of his sons, he had eight sons, called all seven of his
sons, left David out in the field. He was the least likely to succeed. All the other boys, boy, they
were strong and virile and they were good and they, man, they
looked like kingly people. And every one of them, Samuel
said, no, that's not, no, that's not, no, that's not him. Don't
you have another son? Is this all you got? And he said,
well, I got that little boy out there. He's scrawny boy, ruddy
boy. He's out there in the field.
Bring him in. And sure enough, when Samuel
saw him, he said, that's God's anointing. What a great thing. God takes the least and raises
him up to be the greatest. And here David is the greatest.
He's had all the riches, all the success a man could want.
I mean, David has had battles, and I mean successful triumphs
and victories over Goliath as a young boy, beating the champion. of an army of the Philistine
army with one stone." Oh man, this guy was great. This guy
had everything going for him. Now, these be the last words
of a guy who had everything going for him. You see, it didn't matter how
great David was. He was still going to die. No matter how great you become
in this world, listen to me, you are going to die. You're
going to die. David spoke the words of God.
Look at that in verse 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake
to me, spake by me His word in my tongue. Listen to me this
morning. God speaks to you by me. Who is sufficient for such things? I didn't grow up as a boy saying,
man, I just want to be a preacher. That's not what I wanted to be.
It's what God made me to be. But even though I speak the word
of God, yet this is imminent, I'll die. just like the rest
of God's men. Physical death is imminent. This man, David, though he was
great, notice this. He confesses he is a sinner. This man David, by his own confession,
was born a sinner, guilty of sin. You remember that this man
that God raised up to such a high place and used him, that he committed
adultery. And not only committed adultery,
had the woman's husband murdered. And he himself confessed, I have
sinned against God. Against thee, and thee only have
I sinned. Behold the truth of God. Listen
to me, you dying men. There is none righteous, no,
not one. Surely some of you might say,
well, I'm a pretty good person. You don't know me. You don't
know what I've done. Yes, I do. You're a filthy, wicked
sinner just like I am. How do I know that? Because God
says it. Surely someone will say, I'm
a good man, I've been honest as I can, I don't steal, I don't
lie, I work hard, go to church, I've been baptized, I say my
prayers, I read my Bible. All that and your sin too will
get you hell. If that's what you're trusting
in, that'll get you nothing but hell. Now this may set you head and
shoulders above other men, All your goodness might even get
you elected president. Not likely. Not likely. I don't think they're looking
for good men anyway. It may win you friends and influence
people, but it will have no influence on God with whom you have to
do. God's not looking for your best deeds. God's not looking
for your best work. You don't have any. That's like
looking for a needle in a haystack without any needles. You just
ain't gonna find it. You ain't gonna find it. God
says your best deeds. Listen, this is what God says
about our best deeds. You dying man, listen to me.
God says your best stuff is a menstrual cloth. That's it. Your best stuff is
a sewer in the nostrils of God Almighty. That's your best. I'm not even
talking about all that vile stuff you hide. I'm talking about your
best. So stop and look. Look at what
God says. Go over to Galatians. See what
the Word of God says about this. Galatians chapter 3. Verse 10. All you trying to be good boys
and girls, all you good men and women, listen to this. For as
many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. For it is written, Curse is everyone
that continueth not. in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. If you desire to be good
and be accepted before God when you die, then you must be constantly
forever good in every thought, every word, every deed, 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year from cradle to grave. That's how good you have to be.
You have to be as holy as God. But that no man is justified
by the law in the sight of God is evident. That's clear. Paul said that's just easy to
see. It's clearly manifest. You cannot
obey the law of God. Why? You were corrupt in conception. You were born speaking lies. Nobody taught you how to lie,
did they? You got that one all by yourself.
Yeah, you did it. And you know what? My son got
it from me. No man is justified in the sight
of God. You might be justified in your
own sight if you want to, but not in the sight of God.
Listen to me, death is imminent, for it is appointed unto men
once to die, and after that, the judgment. Did you hear that? What happens after death? Do
you suppose that it's just a sleep, that everybody just lays down
and goes to sleep, and it's all peaceful and joyful, or that
you don't have any recollection of anything, that you just evaporate
into nothingness? You're a fool if you think that.
Matter of fact, you've got to force yourself to believe that
garbage. You've really got to try. Immediately when you die, you
will go and face God. You who despise God's warnings, you seek to hide behind your
religion, your profession of faith that you've made, hide
behind your moral deeds, There will come a day when you won't
be able to hide anymore. Run if you will. Run on to hell. There'll be a day where you're
gonna stop running. There'll be a day when you can
no longer hide. And it's coming quick. Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and
open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Do you understand
that? You have to do with God. You have to deal with God. You have to. You will. Everyone here under the sound
of my voice, you will deal with God in judgment. Matter of fact,
He will deal with you. He will deal with you. The time is at hand. And listen
to this. Whatever you are when you die,
that's what you'll be forever. The Scripture says, He that is
unjust, let him be unjust still. He that is filthy, let him be
filthy still. He that is righteous, let him
be righteous still. He that is holy, let him be holy
still. Whatever you are, when you die,
that is what you will be forever, for eternity, with no hope of
change, whatever it is. There's no going back. Don't
listen to the fools that talk of purgatory, that talk of hope
after death. There is no hope after death.
Whatever you are, that's what you'll be. That's it. And as sure as David had his
last words, you'll have your last words. So I'll ask you. I'm asking you, are you ready
to meet God? Don't give me this, I got plenty
of time. Don't give me that. You don't know, you have no clue
you have plenty of time. Are you ready now to meet God? Are you ready to die? It is appointed. You know that? Your death is appointed, set. Job said this, "...in God's hands
is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." Over in Psalms 89 and verse 48,
it says this, "...what man is he that liveth and shall not
see death?" Shall he deliver his soul from
the hand of the grave? When God calls your breath, do
you suppose that you'll have an option? Do you suppose that the doctors
will save you? Medicine, modern medicine. Suppose that'll help you? Not when God calls you. That
day is set and there's nothing can move it. It's set. And one day God will withhold
your breath. He will command your soul and
in that moment you will be judged. Go over to Luke 16. Verse 19. Here's a history for you. The Lord's not giving a parable,
He's giving a history. There was a certain rich man,
which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously
every day. And there was a certain beggar
named Lazarus, which was laid at the gate full of sores, and
desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's
table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it
came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels
into Abraham's bosom." That's heaven. The rich man died also
and was buried. Do you not see that they had
both the same end? They didn't have the same middle.
One was a rich man. He lived fairly all the time.
This other guy was poor. He had nothing. His doctors were
dogs. And he died. And the rich man died also, listen,
and in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments. And seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and
said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus, that he
may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said, Son, remember,
that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things and likewise
Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented
and besides all this between us and you there's a great gulf
fixed so that they which would pass over from hence cannot neither
can they pass to us that would come from thence You not see
the eternalness of this? There's a goal fixed. One's comforted
and one is tormented. Now friends, knowing this, that
I too will die, I want to know what the difference is. Do you want to know what the
difference is? What made the difference? Both of them were
Jews. Is that going to make any difference what color you are,
what nationality you are? Does that make any difference?
Not at all. Not at all. They were both Jews. What made the difference? Listen to me. Lazarus was righteous
and the other man was a sinner. That's the difference. The rich
man deserved to be in hell. Not because he was rich. David
was rich. Abraham was rich. There are many
people who are God's people who are righteous and have wealth.
That's not the determining factor because how many people are preaching
that garbage today? That if you're poor, God loves
you because you're poor. No, that's not true. That's not
what makes a difference. What makes a difference is whether
you're righteous or not. Let's see what David found for
his comfort. He had his last days and he found
some comfort. Now what was the last words of
David? David spoke God's word, David heard God's word, and this
was God's word, that you should be just. He said a man that rules over
men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. In other words,
you must be just and you must fear God. Two things which by
nature is impossible for us to do. We've already failed. So
if you start now and you continue on, what are you going to do
with all that stuff that you did before? No hope. No hope. And so David in verse
5 says, confessing, although my house be not so with God,
although I'm not just, although I recognize my guilt and my sin,
what then is his hope? Here it is, yet. God hath made
with me an everlasting covenant. Are you a sinner? Then I want to give you a word
about David's confidence in a covenant. And notice this, it's a covenant
that God made with David, not a covenant that David made with
God. You make your deals with God
and you will die in your sins. There's no comfort in your backyard
shady deals. Matter of fact, in Isaiah 28,
you can read it later, those are called refuge of lies. And God said, when the time comes
and you die, all of your lies will be exposed. The bed is shorter. Cover is shorter than a man can
stretch himself out. In other words, your works and
your covenant, God says, I'll disannul them. So, if you have
comfort in a covenant that you made with God, you have no comfort. It's a lie. But David said, I've got comfort
in this that God made with me. Now, there's a good thing. If
God makes a covenant with If God made a covenant with you,
then you have hope. You have hope. God made a covenant
with me. Oh sinner, don't rest on anything
that you've done. Behold, God's covenant is one
that God made with David from eternity. This covenant of grace
is not made with all men. It's made only by God for the
elect. There are a number that God has
chosen of Adam's race. And He has from eternity made
an agreement with them. Now I tell you this, I wasn't
there. I didn't see it. You didn't either. How do I know
this? God's Word tells me this. This
is the mystery of God's Word. That God's made a covenant with
an elect people. And the elect were purposed of
God to be made holy. See how it is that a man's gonna
get the glory? It's only if God made a covenant
with him to make him holy. Only if God intervenes can we
be made acceptable to God. God made a covenant with them.
He said, I'll make them holy. And notice what David said about
this covenant that God made with him. He said that it's ordered, ordered in all things. In other words, God that purposed
to save his people has decreed all things to save his people. This covenant that God made is
ordered in all things. And listen to me, all things
are wrapped up in one person. His holy son. This is the sum and the substance
of the covenant, the contract that God made for His elect.
He gave them to His Son, and His Son said, I'll be their representative,
I'll be their Redeemer, I'll be their Savior. He promised to be all our righteousness,
and He has obtained our righteousness. Remember, I told you Adam was
a representative. And He plunged us all into death.
Even so, but Jesus Christ was a representative man. And He
represented all those in that covenant. Therefore, when He
came into the world as a man, He came and obeyed the law of
God and honored it in our room instead. The scripture says in
Isaiah chapter 42, it says, the Lord is well pleased for His
namesake. Now why would God be pleased
with any of His elect? For His namesake, for Christ. He obtained our righteousness.
And not only that, He obtained our redemption by pouring out
His blood. This is the death of the cross.
This is the purpose why the Son of God was hung upon a tree,
is that He was made sin for us who knew no sin. That we, who's
the we? Those in the covenant. Those
whose names are written in the covenant. that we should be made the righteousness
of God. I saw one hanging on a tree in
agony and blood. He fixed his loving eyes on me
as near his cross I stood. Are you such a dying sinner? A second look he gave which said,
I freely all forgive. This blood is for your ransom
paid. I died that you might live. And as soon as the Son of God
died, the covenant was ratified. In the law they used to do everything
with blood. They had a covenant and he ratified
it with blood. Do you not see that the blood
of Jesus Christ has made the covenant effectual? His death didn't make salvation
possible, it actually accomplished it. For who? All in the covenant. All in the covenant. It's ordered
in all things and sure. It's sure. All that the Father
chose and all that the Son redeemed surely, listen to me, in the
process of time, the Holy Spirit will come to every one of His
people and He will give them life. I who was born dead, a dying man, God has given me life. And now I see all my salvation in the covenant blood of Christ. I see all my hope in Him. And notice this, David
said, He is all my salvation and all my desire. One thing have I desired, and
that will I seek after. that I may dwell in the house
of the Lord to behold his beauty and inquire in his temple." I'll
tell you what, that's an evidence of life. I have no other desire
but Him. Paul said, I count all things
but dumb that I might win Christ. and
be found in him. Although he make it not to grow. I tell you, I hate my sin. I love His righteousness. But I tell you, the more I grow
in the grace and knowledge of Christ, it's not what I thought
it would be. I thought I would see more of
him in myself. I see only more sin. But what does that do? Doesn't that drive us more to
depend on the covenant and less on ourselves? I depend
more today on the covenant of God's grace, and tomorrow I'll
depend more on the covenant of God's grace. And when that day comes, I may
fear. I may tremble when I die. I don't
know. But irregardless of how I feel
when I die, this is all my hope. This is all my salvation. He hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. These are the last
words of David. These are the last words of every
saint. Will these be yours? If they are, rejoice. Death is not a problem. Death is a speed bump to glory. If this is not your hope, you
have every reason to fear. Because we will all die. I'll ask you again. Are you ready? You're in Christ, you're ready.
You're ready. Because it's all done. It's all
done. Nothing more to do. But to worship
God. To love Him. to inquire in his
temple. That's what we're doing, aren't
we? We're inquiring. Inquiring minds
want to know. I want to know my interest in
him, don't you? May God show that to you even
now. This stand will be dismissed, in fact.